The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has warned that hate speech offenders risk 10 years jail time and N25 million fine, on conviction.

Idris gave the warning on Tuesday, September 12, during a round-table discussion organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in Abuja for bloggers, online publishers, social media influencers and the traditional media, on the dangers of the current spate of hate speeches in the country.

The police boss explained that the military cannot dabble into the enforcement of cybercrime act 2015, which the executive has categorised as “hate speech” because the enforcement of the law is not within the military’s purview, The Sun reports.

Idris, who was represented by Mr. London Joseph, urged Nigerians to be mindful of sections 24 and 26 of the act.

He reminded social media operators that an offender, on conviction risks imprisonment for 10 years or a minimum fine of 25m.

The police boss noted that in some cases, the 10 years imprisonment and the minimum fine of 25m could be imposed on an offender at the same time.

Meanwhile, ahead of the forthcoming elections, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says it will impose heavy sanctions on broadcast stations which promote hate speeches.

The director general of the commission, Mr Is’haq Kawu, said this on Thursday, August 31, in Enugu at the inauguration of Family Love FM 99.9 at the European Quarters in Ngwo.

Kawu was represented at the event by a director in the commission, Mr Armstrong Idachaba, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

He said that the commission had taken note of hate speeches from some part of the country, adding that it would guard against its infiltration in the broadcast industry.

Kawu said that the broadcast industry had witnessed tremendous growth in the last few years owing to the complete deregulation of the sector.